Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-07
THEY FORGED 100000.
Exploits OF George Bidwell and His
American Associates In London.
Bank OF England Ylctimil I'd.
Tho Most Rem arksble Forg In the An
nails OF Crime-The Little Oversight
That Discovered the Crime


serves to recall one Of the most astounding
forgeries ever known in criminal annals.
The scheme which brought Bidwell and
his associates to felon's doom was re-
markable alike for its boldness of concep-
tor, the muititudinous eXpedients en-
ployed, the Consummate care displayed
in its preparation, the skill of its execu-
ton aud the all but complete success
which attended its conclusion. There have
been rOgues who have plundered more ex-
tensively than the BidWell gang, but
they were in positions Of trust and con-
tidence. These iorgers went Euro re,
without credit, without business, without
reputation and without introduction.
Their entecedents were questionable and
their surroundings doubtful. And yet
these men, by skill and address, over
came all these disadvantages, and in
few months obtained from the most care
fully managed monetary establishments
Of the world sum Of money which,
could they but have retained it would
have enabled them to have spent the rest
of their lives like prosperous gentlemen.
George C. Bidwell, his brother, Austin
Bidwell, and George mcdonnell, all
Americans, arrived in London in the
spring of 1872, for the purpose Of putting
into operation some plan of fraud by
which they hoped to make large sum of
money. They were skillful forgers and
ere in possession Of about S40 600, the
proceeds Of successful iorgeries per
petreted on the continent. After
carefully studying the methods of
business of London bankers and
merchants, mcdonnell discovered that
precEution taken by bankers in this coun-
try w&s neglected in London. In this
country when bill or draft is accepted
and then taken to bank for discount,
the bank invariably sends the bill by one
CT It's own clerks to the aCCeptor to have
it "initialed" by MIN. In London when
bank is familiar with the signature Of
an acceptor, it takes no such precaution,
and does not present the bill until it
falls due.
LONG AND CAREFUL PREPARATIONS.
Having discovered way by which q
great fraud might be successful perpe-
Jrated, the Conspirators at once set to
work to obtain an introduction to the
Bank of England or some OF its branches,
that being first necessary step. They
must have an account at the bank, and, to
get 1t, they must be properly introduced.
To go as strangers and deposit money
would only excite suspicion and draw
the surveillance of the bank detectives.
They took up their residence IN one of the
! suburbs of London in the spring of 1872
under assumed names Austin Bidwell
being known as Colonel +. A. Warren.
| They commenced to deal with g very re-
| spectacle firm of tsilors, named Green,
and in May gave them an extensive order
clothes. Calling to try his clothes
on, Colonel Warren (Austin BIdWell)
told Mr. Green that he was rather pressed
| for time and wanted to catch the Irish
! express; that he had $4,000 that he did
not like to leave at his lodgings, and
would Mr.. Green kindly take care of it
| for him until his return from Ireland?
Mr.. Green declined to take charge of
so much money, but did precisely what
Bidweu anticipated he would do. He
offered to introduce him to the
Western branch of the Bank OF
England, where the Greens kept
their own account. OF course
the offer was accepted, and the deposit
was made. A customer who ordered
freely, paid cash on the nail and had 8
couple OF thousand pounds more than he
chose to carry about, was sure to be
thought we'll of both by the tradesmen he
had patronized and the manager TO whom
| he was introduced. BidWell gave the
name of Frederick Albert Warren, and in
nocently inquired if, supposing he had
any further sum to pay in, he need trouble
Mr.. Green to come with MIN for that pur-
pose. He was tcld that the account was
hepceforth his own, and that he could pay
in the money direct, and the parties
| separated, mutually pleased with each
| other.
| The forgers now had deposit account
and q signature the bank would trea;
with certain amount of respect. This
was the thin edge OF the wedge, but q vast
amount of work was to be done, and
most adroltly done, before it could be
driven home. One additional deposit
was made during the summer and some
small amounts were Withdrawn, lust &c
keep up the acquaintance unit
the following September when Aus
tin Bidweu called and procured the
manager of the bank to sell for hin
$4,000 of Portuguese bonds, the proceeds
of which were also passed TO the credit
Of +. A Warren. On this occasion Bid
well told the manager that he was al
| American contractor, and was about L
establish large works at Birmingham TO,
the purpose of building Pullman palac,
cars and introducing them in England
and on the continent, and would prob
ably need more or less accommodation
at the bank.
+. A. WARREN'S WORK.
Meantime George Bidwell and Mscdon
nell had passed good deal of time OF
the continent in acquainting themselve
with the nature and position Of the srea
commercial houses, and had purchased
few bills of exchange drawn on vsriou
houses and banks in London. Thes
bills usually ran three months, AM
were forwarded to Austin Bidwell
An illness of George mcdonnell de
layed operations for while, blu
after his recovery the scheme was set il
motion. Between November and jar
uary George Bidwell, under the name o
Gilbert, purchased large number OF gen
uine bills, which served two purposes
They were paid into Warren's sccoun
and thus maintaieed his credit, but the
also served as models for the in
tended forgeries. Austin Bidwell car
ried the genuine bills to the bank an,
: offered them for discount, and, the stand
ing of the drawers and acceptors bein
: very high, the bank very gladl
discounted them. The banks confidence
| NOT complofalu orc N al T,pti